#synthetic-media

#synthetic-media

Since Google launched Audio Overview, the first mass-market podcast generator that creates shows from documents and other inputs, just over a year ago, a wave of startups has rushed in, from ElevenLabs to Wondercraft. No studio, no humans at the microphone, not even a recording -- yet out comes a lively podcast, banter and all. Whether based on a legal document or a school handout, AI tools can deliver a state-of-the-art podcast at the click of a mouse.

The salesperson hawking Brother printers on Taobao works hard-like, really hard. At any time of the day, even when there's no audience on the Chinese ecommerce platform, the same woman wearing a white shirt and black skirt is always livestreaming, boasting about the various features of different office printers. She has a phone in one hand and often checks it as if to read a sales script or monitor the viewer comments coming in.

Brands are integrating AI-generated personas into their marketing strategies, using digital tools to enhance customer engagement through virtual assistants and hyper-realistic avatars.